Finger brush



Jan. 30, 1962 B. H. wAssERMAN 3,018,498

FINGER BRUSH Filed June 28, 1960 INVENTOR. 55244460 MssffeM/M/ Fatented lara 3b, i362 hice antenas FNGER BRUSH Bernard H. Wasserman, 3S Rose lav/e., Great Neck, NX. Filed .lune 2S, 1969, Ser. No. 39,32@ 9 Claims. (Cl. 15m-167) This invention relates to a novel linger brush particularly adapted for the cleaning ofV teeth and other surfaces, and to a novel bristle fab-ric advantageously employed as the working or brushing surface of such brush.

The tooth brush in common use at present consisting of a rigid handle provided with bristles at one end has since its inception been recognized by the dental profession a's subject to a number of disadvantages, including an inability in the hands of most people to effectively clean the surfaces of all teeth, particularly those at the rear of the mouth, and an undesirable propensity for shocking the user and/or damaging his gums by the frequent sharp contacting of the gums by the rigid handle.

Many attempts have been made to provide a tooth brush which will not be subject to the Vabove disadvantages, a number of which have taken the form of a pile or looped fabric suitably mounted and adapted for use on the finger. These and other types of linger brushes, although a step in the right direction, have also been subject to a number of disadvantages, including a brushing surface inadequate for proper penetration between the teeth, an incorrect and/ or insufficiently liexible shape, configuration or structure preventing the desired ability to conform with and follow all the con-- tours of the dental arches in the mouth, use of material or structure rendered ineffective by the action of the saliva, etc.

it is an object or" this invention to provide a linger brush which will not be subject to the above disadvantages. Another object of this invention is the provision of a linger tooth brush enabling an efficient and effective cleaning of the crevices between, and the surfaces of, all the teeth in the mouth. Still another object of this invention is the provision of a linger tooth brush of novel construction capable of bending in such manner as to conform with the contours of the dental arches in the mouth. A further object is the pro-vision of such a linger tooth brush of novel construction adapted to maintain bristles in its brushing surface in an upright position substantially perpendicular to the surface of the supporting portion of the finger during use. An additional object is the provision of an improved brush adapted for use on one or more lingers of the hand and for the brushing of any desired surface. A still further object of this invention is the provision of an improved bristle fabric particularly adapted for use in the improved linger brush of this invention. Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

The foregoing objects are attained by my improved finger brush which comprises a flexible linger cot, and a strip of bristle fabric providing a brushing surface fastened longitudinally to one side of the outer surface of said linger cot adjacent to the closed end thereof, the portion of the linger cot to which said bristle fabric is attached being substantially transversely still and planar and capable of bending only on at least one 'ransverse anis at least about 1/2 to 3d from said closed end; and by an improved bristle fab-ric particularly adapted for use in my finger brush, such fabric incorporating bristle elements interwoven within a base fabric in self-retaining relation therein, said base fabric comprising a plurality of binder warps interwoven with a plurality of shots of ribbon filler elements of flattened cross-section, the flattened sides of the ribbon liller elements being positioned perpendicularly to the plane of the base fabric,

and at least one bristle element looped around at least Adirectly opposite, the reinforcing member i4.

each alternate shot of ribbon liller elements and maintained in a position perpendicular to the plane ofthe base fabric by close Contact of the inner surfaces of the loops with the flattened sides of said ribbon liller elements.

Preferred embodiments ofmy invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts and in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view, partially cut away, of my flexible linger brush;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the substantially transversely stiff and planar reinforcing member employed in the linger brush shown in FIGURE l;

FlGURE 4 is a View of the bristle surface of said linger brush taken along line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged View of the back of the bristle fabric employed in said linger brush;

FlGUREKvS is a view in cross section taken along the line 6 6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a view in cross section taken along the line 7 7 of FIGURE 5. j

Referring now in detail to the several figures, finger cot lo shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 4 is preferably molded of rubber or other flexible water resistant material, and is provided with a tab 1i which when the cot is upon the linger may be pressed by the thumb in order to hold the cot in position on the finger. The tab may be provided with a hole 12 and/or recesses 13 andV 13 to facilitate hanging up the finger brush when notin use. As shown in FIGURES l and 2, a substantially transversely stiff and planar reinforcing member 14, illustrated in plan in FIGURE 3, is molded into the tab side of the linger cot adjacent to the closed end thereof, being sandwiched between an inner layer l5 and an outer layer 16 of the linger cot material. Member le isV preferably formed of metal, e.g-. spring steel, strip material of sufficient thickness to provide transverse stillness or rigidity, and is provided with paired slits or notches 17 and 17', is and 18', i9 and i9', and 2@ and 2b. Because of the reduced area between the slits in each of these pairs, member le. is capable of bending (and slightly twisting) on the transverse axes upon4 which the paired slits are centered, namely f7 7, lit- 132 1.9 19 and 2tl 2t). Slits 17 and 17 are at least about 1/2 to 5% from the closed end of the linger cot, whereby end section 2l of member irl is substantially stili in all directions to facilitate brushing of the rear portions of the dental arches in the mouth. A strip of bristle fabric incorporating bristle elements 22 interwoven within a base fabric 23, illustrated in detail in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, is cemented or otherwise fastened to the layer le of the linger cot 1li. The strip of base fabric 23 is of substantially the same outside dimensions as, and is fastened to the linger cot The base fabric is composed of water resistant, high tenacity material such as nylon (eg. polymerized hexamethylene adipa'mide). The bristle elements are similarly composed, preferably of nylon bristles extending about 1A to Bs from the base fabric and prepared in known manner to provide the required rigidity for efficient brushing action.

Although any suitable bristle fab-ric may be used in the linger brush of FIGURE l, the preferred construction of my improved bristle fabric is shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 enlarged and in an untensioned and/or uncompressed state for illustrative purposes, it being understood that warpwise and fillerwise tightening of the construction will provide a fabric in which .the bristle elements are maintained in novel manner in a position perpendicular to the plane of the base fabric. A critical and essential feature of this bristle fabric resides in the use in the construction of the base fabric of ribbon filler elements 24, 31, 32, 33, and 34 of attened cross section, the liattened sides of which are positioned perpendicularly to the plane of the base fabric. The flattened shape of the ribbon elements may be obtained in any desired manner, as by extrusion of the material, eg. nylon, through slit-shaped openings, application of transverse heat and pressure to an element of round cross section, welding of a plurality of smaller filaments to build up a ribbon element of the desired cross sectional configuration, etc.

A single shot weave is shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, in which one or a set of bristle elements exemplified at 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 are looped around each shot of ribbon filler elements 24, 31, 32, 33, and 34. Binder warps 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 are shown interwoven with successive shots of ribbon filler elements, these warps being of preferably fairly high twist and fairly hard. The ribbon filler elements are thus interwoven with the warps and through the bases of the bristle elements.

The bristle fabric illustrated in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 may be produced on any suitable apparatus and in any desired manner, as for example in the manner disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,578,173. Further, as disclosed in said patent, my bristle fabric may be made with a two shot weave in which the bristle elements are looped around each alternate shot of ribbon ller elements, as by omission of bristle elements 25 and 27 in FIGURE 6. Similarly, the system of plural sets of binder warps disclosed in said patent may be employed in producing my bristle fabric without departing from the essence of the invention. Still further, my invention may be adapted for the production of an improved pile fabric suitable for rugs, etc., by substituting pile or tuft yarns for the bristle elements in conjunction with the described ribbon filler elements, said yarns being supported and maintained in upright position by compression against the flattened sides of the ribbon elements.

Although the essential ribbon elements employed in the above described bristle or pile fabric are disclosed las the filler components of the fabric, it will be understood that my invention also includes the equivalent use of the said ribbon elements as the warp components, in which case the interwoven filler elements or yarns will function to hold the bristle elements tightly against the attened sides of the ribbon warp elements. Each bristle element may be composed of a single filament of any desired shape or cross section, or a film or ribbon, or a plurality thereof.

For use as a finger tooth brush, the finger cot is slipped on `the forefinger with the bristled surface facing the thumb, which latter member is employed to compress the tab against the forefinger. The outer surfaces of the teeth may then be readily brushed, desirably in conjunction with a toothpaste or toothpowder, a crooking of the forenger operating to bend the brush on one or more of said transverse axes and thereby bring lall the bristle elements in upright position against the teeth. The inner surfaces of the teeth are brushed with the forefinger in a bent or straightened position depending on the area to be brushed. The improved construction of my finger brush, in which the bristled surface is substantially transversely stiff or rigid and is capable of bending on a transverse axis about 1/2 to 3A" from the closed end of the finger cot, enables the application of a highly improved and efcient brushing action against all surfaces of the teeth,

This invention has been disclosed with respect to certain preferred embodiments and variations thereof, and a number of other uninventive modifications and variations will become obvious to persons skilled in the art. For example, the finger cot may be made of fiexible plastic film or sheet, impervious or perforated, or textile fabric. Instead of a tab, the open end of the finger cot may be provided with a thickened flange or annulus to hold the cot in position on the nger. The reinforcing member,

instead of being embedded in the cot material, may be cemented or otherwise fastened to the inner or outer surface of the finger cot opposite the bristle fabric, and may be capable of bending on only a single transverse axis about 1/2 to 3A" from the closed end. Any desired number of transverse bending axes may be provided at a distance more than 1/2 to 3/21" from the closed end. Instead of slits or notches, transverse bending may be provided by means of grooves or even by use of separate stifening members or portions yabutting each other along the required 4transverse axes or axis. lInstead of a distinct reinforcing member or members, the material of the cot itself opposite the bristle fabric may be so constructed as to provide the necessary stiffening and transverse bending axes. The cot may be widened sufiiciently to enclose additional fingers or the entire hand, whereby it may be employed as a handbrush or mitten brush on any desired object.

For children, it is obviously desirable to provide the brush with a shorter stiffened end section, as by locating the first transverse bending axis (eg. 17-17') about 1/2 from the closed end of the brush, and with the shorter ca. 1A bristles. Larger sizes of brushes for adults are preferably provided with a first transverse bending axis further from the closed end, e.g. up to about 3/1, and with longer bristles up to about Longer or shorter stiffened end sections and bristles can be made use of to raccommodate unusual sizes or functions.

It will be understood that these and other obvious modifications `and Variations are tot be included within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A finger brush comprising a liexible finger cot, and a strip of bristle fabric providing a brushing surface fastened longitudinally to one side of the outer surface of said finger cot adjacent to the closed end thereof, the portion of the finger cot to which said bristle fabric is attached being substantially transversely stiff and planar and only capable of bending on at least one transverse axis at least about 1/2 to 3A from the said closed end.

2. A finger brush as defined in claim 1 in which the portion of the finger cot to which said bristle fabric is attached is capable of bending on a plurality of transverse axes, one of which is about 1/2 to 1% from said closed end and the remainder of which are further than about from said closed end.

3. A finger brush as defined in claim 1 in which the portion of the finger cot to which said bristle fabric is attached is capable of bending on only a single transverse axis about 1/2 to 3A from said closed end.

4. A finger brush comprising a fiexible finger cot, a strip of bristle fabric fastened longitudinally to one side of the outer surface of said finger cot adjacent to the closed end thereof, and a substantially transversely stiff and planar reinforcing member embedded in the finger cot material opposite said strip of bristle fabric and only capable of bending on at least one transverse axis at least about 1/2 to 1% from said closed end.

5. A finger brush as defined in claim 4 lin which said reinforcing member is capable of bending on a plurality of transverse axes, one of which is about 1/2 to 1%," from said closed end and the remainder of which are further than about 3/1 from said closed end.

6. A finger brush as defined in claim 4 in which said reinforcing member is capable of bending only on a single transverse axis about 1%" from said closed end.

7. A finger brush as defined in claim 4 in which the bristles in said bristle fabric are about Mt to 3/8 in length.

8. A bristle fabric incorporating bristle elements interwoven within a base fabric in self-retaining relation therein, said base fabric comprising a plurality of binder warps intermoven with a plurality of shots of ribbon filler elements of flattened cross section, the flattened sides of the ribbon filler elements being positioned perpendicularly to the plane of the base fabric, and at least one bristle element looped around at least each alternate shot of ribbon filler elements and maintained in a position perpendicular to the plane of the base fabric by close contact of the inner surfaces of the loops with the attened sides of said ribbon filler elements.

9. A single shot bristle fabric incorporating bristle elements interwoven within a base fabric in self-retaining relation therein, said base fabric comprising a plurality of binder wraps interwoven with successive shots of ribbon filler elements of iiattened cross section, the flattened sides of the ribbon filler elements being positioned perpendicularly to the plane of the base fabric, and at least one bristle element looped around each shot of ribbon ller elements and maintained in a position perpendicular to the plane of the base fabric by close contact of the inner surfaces of the loops with the atteued sides of said ribbon ller elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,168,998 Brandenburg Jan. 18, 1916 2,650,383 Bressler Sept. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 544,720 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1942 

